Throwing Like A Girl

By: Anna Comfort

My family is obsessed with football. As the only girl of four children, most of our dinner-table conversations revolve around athletics. Depending on the season, we are left discussing Gonzaga basketball, the Mariners, my older brother's most recent time in the 40, and how much soccer sucks. But despite winter, spring, summer, or fall, we always discuss football.

Because of this constant discussion, I possess a great wealth of knowledge in the realm of football. I understand the game and know the rules by heart. For instance, I know that the offense has to be set for one whole second before they snap the ball. I also know that in high school football, players on the sidelines must stay between the 25-yard lines on either side of the field. And being an 18-year-old young woman, this information does not come in very handy too often.

That is, every now and then, my smarts play to my advantage. For instance, when I overhear boys debating on which teams should go to the Rose Bowl, I can tell who knows what they are talking about and who is showing off. I can also use my gender to my advantage and pretend to not know anything about football, bet with a guy friend on the outcome of a game, and win. I can throw a spiral better than every girl I know (for some reason this impresses guys—who knew?). Basically, guys, don't underestimate a girl with three sports fanatics for brothers—she knows what she's talking about.